A planning application has been submitted to build 36 foot anaerobic digestion plants in an East Cambridgeshire village.

The plans propose the construction of a new anaerobic digestion plant, including an ancillary plant, on land north of Padro House, Cambridge Road, in Stretham.

They were submitted by the Pretoria Energy Company, based in Chittering. The company owns the land that they propose to build the plants on.

The Design and Access Statement, submitted with the planning application, indicates that there will be four 36 foot digester tanks and two post-digester tanks that, when filled with gas, will be just under 40ft.

The company already have an anaerobic digestor plant in a separate field, but are seeking to expand their operations. 

Recommended Reading: Ely and East Cambridgeshire General Election Debate

The Design and Access Statement also says: "The proposed anaerobic digestor plant will be of similar scale to the existing facility to the South, seamlessly integrating into its surroundings."

It adds: "Only the top of the tanks is likely to be visible from a distance."

The site sits off of the A10 between Chittering and Soham, and, if the plan is approved, "extensive planting" will "likely" mask the view of the plant from the road, the Design and Access Statement says.

It also sits closely to archaeological sites which have previously revealed artifacts from the Neolithic times to the Bronze Age, as well as remains from a Roman villa.

However, Cambridgeshire County Council has confirmed that they would not object to these proposals, as previous excavation work that has taken place on the land only revealed 19th century quarrying remains.

At the moment, the company currently has eight full-time employees working for them. However, if the plans are approved, four more additional employees would be taken on.

Anyone who would like to read the planning documents can do so by visiting East Cambridgeshire District Council's planning access system. The planning reference is 24/00373/FUM.